45 busts start DUI season

Police arrest dozens of drivers and vow to staff checkpoints

Police looking for intoxicated drivers have gotten a jump on the holiday season, arresting 45 people over the weekend and promising surprise roadblocks in the weeks ahead.

Between 9 p.m. Friday and 5:30 a.m. Saturday, 34 people were arrested on suspicion of driving intoxicated or possessing alcohol.

Of those, 11 were arrested on suspicion of operating under the influence of an intoxicant in front of the Waikiki Shell on Monsarrat Avenue, leaving Waikiki. Another driver was arrested in a roadblock at an unknown location on Kamehameha Highway below an H-1 freeway overpass.

Drivers were arrested in Kalihi, Waikiki, the University of Hawaii area, Ewa Beach, Wailupe and other areas.

Between 9 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 a.m. yesterday, 11 people were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

A bulletin on the Honolulu Police Department Web site said police will be conducting DUI checkpoints at unannounced times and locations throughout the holiday season. Police hope the checkpoints will curb drunken driving and prevent driver-impaired accidents.